Sunday, April 19, 2009

K-k-k-k-k-kathmandu

Sorry, but i couldn't help the Bob Seager reference. Coming into Kathmandu yesterday there were a lot of team members that had the song in their mind. Since arriving yesterday, the group has been getting introduced to the primary guides for our trek and exploring Kathmandu.Our hotel is located right in the tourist area of Thamel which is fun to walk. Today we further explored Kathmandu with a tour of the Swayambhu, or the "temple of the monkeys", located on a high hill in the city. Swayambhu (photo shown) is well known as a place of worship. We also toured the old city center which contains many of the old temples built between the 11th and 18th centuries.This afternoon we will be visiting the PA Nepal Orphanage to deliver our donations as well as talk about NASA and science in general. Tomorrow we depart for Lukla, and begin our journey to the Base Camp. We had delayed our departure one day in order to align our schedule with Scott's so we would have a better opportunity to see him.One more note I will add - our team made the front page of the Himalayan Times. It is very apparent that NASA has a well established brand name world wide and the city has grown interest knowing that several of us work for NASA.

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Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to the blogger for our 2009 Mt. Everest trek! Our group is very excited to bring you our experiences as we hike our way to the base camp of Mt. Everest. Our group consists of 25 friends and family associated with Sabrina Gilmore (EVA flight controller for NASA/JSC) who is coordinating this trip. In addition to traveling through this extraordinary area, our arrival to the base camp of Mt. Everest will be within days of the summit bid by our friend and former NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski (visit ONORBIT for more information on Scott's trip to the Summit). Although internet will be very limited during our trek, we hope to be able to blog periodically when available. To read more about us and our trip, see information below as well as JENNA ANDREWS website. Last year's blog can also be found at the 2008 BLOG.Enjoy! Namaste.

Where in the World?

We carried a GPS tracking deviceduring our trek so you can follow us in our footsteps! This LINK will take you to an external site provided by SPOT Adventures that will show you where we were day to day.

Trek to Base Camp

This is the rough path we will be taking on our trip. IMAGE COURTESY OF www.treknepal.biz

Weather in Lobuje, Nepal (16,0825')

Team Biographies

Sabrina Gilmore (trip coordinator)

Age:28Job:NASA Astronaut Trainer and Flight ControllerBio:I'm a junkie for outdoor activities, especially escapades involving the Himalayan Mountains! I've lived in the Indian Himalayas and it's a beautiful part of the world that I am always excited to visit. The people, the views, and the culture are unforgettable experiences. In 2008 we visited an orphanage and explained science to 80 kids who live in a room painted with planets and stars. Humbling and inspiring! If you're interested in going to the Himalayas, then contact me at sabrinasinghgilmore@gmail.com. "You see the world from where you sit"

Jenna Andrews

Age:22Job:Pharma & Physician Income RepresentativeBio: I was born in a small town in Ohio. (small as in 1 traffic light in the whole town small) Currently living in Charlotte. I’m SO EXCITED to check “trek to base camp of mount everest” off my wish list of things to do! I tend to do things my parents told me to never do! (sorry mom and dad) I love adventure, a challenge and being outdoors. In my free time I enjoy working out and camping. I think you need to take every opportunity that crosses your path and make the most of it. Can’t wait for the trip!!!

Jean-Loup Chretien

Age: Job: Bio: Jean-Loup Chrétien is a retired Général de Brigade (brigadier general) of the Armée de l'Air (French air force) and a former CNES spationaut who flew on several Franco-Soviet space missions and a NASA Space Shuttle mission. Chrétien was the first Frenchman and Western European in space. Born 20 August 1938, in the town of La Rochelle, France. Hobbies include skiing in Winter and sailing in Summer. He also enjoys golf, wind-surfing, car-rallying and woodworking. In addition, he plays the church organ, and took an electric one with him during his first stay in Star City, Russia. In 1994, he was selected as part of Astronaut Group 15 to officially become an International Mission Specialist with NASA. He served on the crew of STS-86 Atlantis (25 September to 6 October 1997) the seventh mission to rendezvous and dock with the Russian Space Station Mir. Mission duration was 10 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes.

Michelle Christgen

Age: 35 Job: Space Medicine Group Manager for Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group Bio: I was born in St. Joseph, MO (near Kansas City, MO). I got my degree in Molecular Biology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I've been with Wyle for about 10 years and I love to travel--especially with my better half, Judd Frieling :-)

Jeannette Darcy

Age: 52 Job: Self-employed engineering consultant for Wyle GmbH (a.k.a. the German Wyle) Bio: All my life I’ve been a campfire girl; I totally love hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing and hanging out in the great outdoors, and I especially love the mountains. I’m in an outdoors club and we get out into some sort of Texas wilderness about once a month. I grew up in Chicago, earned a computer engineering degree at NC State, worked in NASA’s Mission Control doing “Pointing” for the Space Shuttle then ISS MedOps ground control. Later, while living in Cologne, Germany, I also worked as contractor to ESA MedOps. About 5 years ago, I switched over to self-employed contracting in order to indulge my acute school-aholism to the nth degree. As a school junkie, I have become quite interested in learning about Indian religion, philosophy, and culture, and I have a personal goal to become proficient in Sanskrit in order to read some of the great classics in their original language. So this trip to Everest combines two of my passions - the culture of Southeast Asia and hiking in the mountains. I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you, seeing those breathtaking Himalayas with my own eyes and hopefully having enough breath left in me to make it up to EBC, and having fun experiencing the customs of Nepal and India!

Judd Frieling

Age: 35 Job: NASA Space Shuttle Flight Controller Bio: I was born and raised in Austin, TX. I received a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas and started working as an International Space Station Flight Controller in right before the first segment was launched. I am currently working as a Flight Controller in the Space Shuttle Avionics Branch. I enjoy SCUBA diving, skiing, flying, traveling (especially with my better half, Michelle Christgen), hiking, soccer, softball, and biking.

Branellec Gurvan

Age: 39Job: President of Oceania hotels Bio: I was born and I live in Brest, north west of France, at the seaside of the Atlantic Ocean. At 22, I came to live in the US in Washinhgton DC (9 months) and in Denver (18 months). I was a sales rep for Evian Waters (Danone Group). Then, I came back to France, in Strasbourg, as Export Manager for a company which was selling "Pates". Back to Brest in 1999 for running hotels. Love sports in general and discover new countries. I am very excited to come to this unbelievable trip and very glad to do it with you since the US in my second home! I just hope that my english will not be too bad!!

Abiola Heyliger

Age: Job: Bio: My name’s Abiola, a former International Trade Policy Negotiator for the US Government (read: ex-government stiff) but now a "mature" law student in London, finishing an LLM and then doing a law-degree conversion programme which will hopefully prove me worthy to sit for the UK Bar next year. Why swap a stable job, with benefits, for certain poverty in these uncertain times? I'm a Lupus survivor and going back to school to become a lawyer was (#2) on my Top 10 list of things to do with my life after I was diagnosed with SLE three years ago. After my good friend Charles Kovatch suggested it, climbing Mt. Everest became my #4 item on the (revised) list. Besides, my “cool” friends have advised me that, in fact, the law and policy stuff are quite tedious topics of conversation at parties and puts people to sleep; only other policy wonks and lawyers are still awake at the end of a heated discussion about things like harmonized tariff rates for textile and apparel products obtained by mechanical entanglement of staple fibres, weighing more than 150 g/m2”, or why “happy” vs. “glad” as legal text must be defended to the death (!) I get it: nobody cares!

Chris J. Johnson

Age: 36Job: NASA Orion Landing System Integration Manager Bio: Originally from North Dakota I moved to Houston to join the NASA/Johnson Space Center in the quest to develop new technologies and support our manned spaceflight programs. Besides work, one of the ways I get enjoyment in life is when I am exploring and challenging myself. This will be my second trip to the Base Camp, but you can never get enough of this extraordinary place. The trek involves never ending mountain vistas and interesting cultural perspectives. At base camp we'll sit in front of one of the most intriguing mountains in the world and look explorers in the eyes as they prepare themselves for an attempt at the summit. Climb on!

James Johnson

Age: 28 Job: NASA Flight Controller Bio: Howdy! Growing up in Colorado and going to school in Golden, Colorado, I was constantly surrounded by mountains. Funny how it is, but after six years in Houston as a shuttle environmental systems flight controller for NASA, I now realize I took the mountains for granted. After being introduced to some basic glacier travel and ice climbing in Alaska several years back, I’ve been dabbling with the thought of getting into mountaineering. I know, Houston is not exactly the city to catch that bug in! I returned to Alaska to hike the Chilkoot Trail with some college buddies, recently climbed Quandry Peak in Colorado (14,265’), have off-and-on hit the local rock gym, and was laying down some plans for attending a mountaineering school at Mt. Rainier this spring when I caught wind of the Everest Base Camp Trek. After all, Rainier will still be here, EBC is now! I’m looking forward to the challenges, vistas, cultural experiences, and friendships I know the trip will bring. Climb on!

Charles Kovatch

Age: Job: Bio: Born and raised in the mountains of Pennsylvania, I’ve always had a love of the outdoors and a drive for adventure. When I’m not busy saving the environment at the U.S. EPA, I travel, play soccer, do yoga, sing, and tear up the roads motorcycling. I am really excited about this trip, and with some bragging, this will be my third time in the Himalayas. The other two being India and Tibet – look out Bhutan, you’re next. I feel lucky to be joining a great group from NASA (noteable with some fellow Steelers fans) and sharing this trip with two good friends (Erik and Abiola). I’m also hiking this trip with the spirit of my dear friend Brent, who made the connection with Sabrina and was supposed to join us. We continue onward and upward. Carpe

Lesley Lee

Age: Job: Project Scientist for EVA Physiology project helping develop spacewalk systems of the future Bio: Born in Cincinnati but considers Pittsburgh, PA home. Stuart and I moved to Houston in 1992, both to work at NASA-JSC. When I'm not busy working, exercising, or hanging out at home with our 4 cats, I'm a sports junkie (mostly football, already yearning for pre-season - Go Steelers, Nittany Lions & Hokies!). We've been lucky to travel quite a bit for work, including many trips to Russia for medical testing on the astronauts & cosmonauts. We love going to new places and this was to be our biggest adventure yet (and longest vacation ever). But Stuart can't join us this year, so I'll be trekking for the 2 of us and keeping a journal to describe for him the amazing sights and sounds we experience along the way!

Jake Maule

Age: 36Job: NASA Scientist, Space Station PIBio: I am British and was born/grew up in London. I moved to the United States in 2000 to work at NASA Johnson Space Center, and then at Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington DC. I'm a biologist and study microbial life in 'extreme' environments, such as glaciers, deserts, and volcanoes (and the space station). My dad is British and my mum is Indian. My mum spent her childhood living in the Himalayas during the 1950s, when Tenzing and Hillary reached the summit of Everest for the first time. I was always fascinated by those stories and my mum's description of the mountains. I never thought I would get the chance to see Mount Everest myself and feel this is a real honour. I am doubly excited as this will be my first visit to India and Nepal! I'm technically no longer a Houston local, but look forward to meeting everyone on the trip!

Court Manuel

Age: 26Job: US Navy Bio: Grew up in Houston (Deer Park/Clear Lake to be exact) and lived there until I joined the Navy when I turned 20. In the service I studied Nuclear Engineering and served 4 years on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. I have a wonderful 6 year old daughter named Kayla who lives in Houston. I am not the experienced hiker/camper but I do have a love for the outdoors/fishing/mountain biking. This is going to be by far the biggest adventure of my short hiking career. GO BIG OR GO HOME! Can't wait!

Keith Manuel

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John McBrine

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Robert Rist

Age: 22
Job: Self-Employed Bio: I am originally from Mantua. OH. In 2005, I moved to Port Orange FL. to go to Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. I then graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Aeronautical Science, and I am now self-employed. I love the outdoors, and flying. I am very excited to meet everyone, and God bless.

Manjeet Singh

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Erin Taschner

Age: 26 Job: International Space Station Flight Controller and Trainer Bio: Born and raised as a Yankee just outside of Allentown, PA (Yes, Billy Joel wrote a song about that town but he really was talking about the town of Bethlehem, right next to Allentown!) Went to school in Boston and then heard about all the great food in Houston and moved on down, needless to say having a job that paid money was also incentive! I get uber excited with just about anything and absolutely love being outside and traveling. I cannot wait to marvel at the Himalayas again and meet with all the wonderful people we are sure to come across….Everest base camp here we come!

Anita Thompson

Age: 45 Job: Bio: I was born and raised in the mountains of Kashmir, India. I work for ATK Space Systems Division and live with my husband, Patrick,and two beautiful children Anusha and Maxwell in Laurel, MD.

Patrick Thompson

Age: 40 Job: Bio: I was born in Atlanta, GA in 1969 and move to rural Canton, GA when I was 7. There I attended Buffington elementary (a somewhat expanded one-room school house for K - 8). I graduated from Cherokee High and entered Georgia Tech in 1987. After 7 years of physics, optics, and coop work (some on the Chandra X-ray Observatory), I graduated with BSc '92 and MSc '94 degrees. After a year or so of various R&D jobs, I was accepted into Doctoral studies at the University of Central Florida / CREOL for optical sciences and engineering (with minor in space systems engineering) in 1995. In 2000 I graduated UCF with the Ph.D. in Optics having completed dissertation work on the design of GOES N/O/P - Solar X-ray Imager mirrors (one currently in orbit and two more on the way !). Just last year (2008) I looked into joining Goddard Space Flight Center team. When the opportunity presented itself, I just couldn't resist the prospect of becoming an integral part of one of the top space science, exploration, and optical engineering institutions in the world ! When not working at GSFC, I am a into amateur astronomy, hiking / trekking / camping, SCUBA diving, gourmet cooking, part-time politics/constitutional law, and spending time with family and friends (preferably doing all the above).

Steve Vander Ark

Age: Job: Section Manager, Behavioral Health and Performance; Wyle, Integrated Science & Engineering GroupBio: Born & raised in Randolph, Wisconsin. After graduating from UW with MS in Industrial-Organizational psychology, moved to Houston in 1991 to begin working at NASA JSC. Currently working at Wyle as Section Manager, Behavioral Health and Performance, in the Space Medicine Group. I have opportunity to work with fantastic people from Wyle, NASA and the ISS international partners, and I'm looking forward to this trek and traveling with a fantastic group of diverse folks. I love international travel and have to admit that Nepal & EBC was not on my list of destinations till last summer. Got to do something like this while still young enough to do it, and not old enough to know better!

Erik Windchester

Age: Not Applicable, but 21 if I have to say... Job: Environmental Scientist, USEPA, Wash DC.Bio: When I was about 12 a neighbor gave me an old ice climbing axe that was rusting away in his shed, from then on I thought about climbing some snow covered mountain like Everest. Though I never did get into climbing, I've always gravitated to the outdoors to obtain a sense of peace and connection to the world, so when I got word of this trip I didn't hesitate for a second to sign on for an adventure of a lifetime. I grew up as a Navy brat, moving every two years from coast to coast, and I guess that experience taught me to be adaptable to all sorts of situations and put the travel bug in me for trips like this. I have a background in aquatic biology and toxicology (VA Tech – GO HOKIES) and used to do real research, but now my 9-5 life is spent as an EPA desk jockey sorting through policy and regulatory issues. My weekend warrior time is spent running, motorcycle touring, snowboarding, watersking, and renovating my 100 yr old Capitol Hill rowhouse. Besides fulfilling a lifelong dream, during the trip I'll also be honoring the memory of my deceased friend Brent Hurd, without him I'd not be on this trip, God Bless you Brent. EBC or BUST!

Christi Worstell

Age: 30Job: NASA Flight ControllerBio: Grew up in Sugar Land (suburb of Houston), Texas. Got an Electrical Engineering degree from Texas A&M (Whoop!). Started working for NASA-JSC in 2001 in Mission Operations as a Flight Controller for the Shuttle Electrical Systems. Enjoy playing soccer, mountain biking, hiking…

Jill Yarussi

Age: Dependent upon my mood Job: Manager of Corporate Communications for an international casino company Bio: I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went to high school with Lesley Lee (I’m willing to gossip for a fee). PSU undergrad (again, with Lesley…more gossip), JD from University of Pittsburgh and then my gypsy side took over. I abandoned law, moved to California jobless and ended up in Santa Barbara, California where I worked as a government liaison for the local transit district. I was there in 1996 when Krakauer took that fateful journey to the summit of Everest and have been obsessed with that mountain ever since, although I never did build a model of it in my kitchen a la Richard Dreyfus in “Close Encounters.” I’ve hiked my way around the Alps, the Rockies (US and Canadian), the Sierras and the Gunks and cannot wait to add the Himalayas to my dossier. For me, life is a mountain, not a beach (okay, so I stole that from a bumper sticker I saw on the way to Vermont last week to go skiing) but for me it’s true. I am the happiest in the hills and I can’t wait to join you all on this incredible adventure.